Work

Multi-directional and multi-modal vortex-induced vibrations for wind energy harvesting

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: A conventional vortex-induced vibration (VIV)-based energy harvester is typically restricted to capturing wind energy from a very limited range of wind directions, making it inefficient in varying wind conditions. This Letter proposes a tri-section beam configuration for VIV-based piezoelectric energy harvester to enable harnessing wind energy from varying incident angle with different vibration modes being triggered. The finite element analysis investigates the tri-section beam harvester's mode shapes and natural frequencies. A wind tunnel experiment is conducted for a comparative study of the energy output performance of the harvesters with straight and tri-section beams. The findings show that the proposed harvester with the tri-section beam can efficiently capture wind energy from a much wider range of incident angles, as opposed to the specific limited directions of its counterpart with the straight beam. The proposed harvester can also widen the lock-in speed range with a higher bending mode being triggered and achieve the optimal output power of 1.388 mW when the proposed harvester works in the second mode at a higher natural frequency, superior to that of its counterpart (0.386 mW) that can only work in the first mode. The proposed configuration sheds light on developing multi-directional and multi-modal VIV-based energy harvesters adapted to wind conditions in natural environments.

Source: Applied Physics Letters

DOI: 10.1063/5.0243653

Authors: Cuipeng Xia, Lihua Tang, Peilun Yin, Kean C. Aw

Institution: University of Auckland

Language: English

Topic: Innovative Energy Harvesting Technologies

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: China Scholarship Council